Yesterday Is Ours (The Yesterday Series Book 3) Page 13

  My daughter’s demand pulls me away. I feel each step with a threatening bone deep tug, as if I’m trudging through sludge that brings me down with each stride. I continue forward, leaning on my daughter’s energy and zest for life. I’m doing this to teach her what strong women are made of. The love of my life is right here willing to give me the world again, yet another man is threatening to take away everything I’ve fought so hard for. I have to stand up and fight the good fight, then go to the man my heart has always belonged to.

  “Mom, the light is green!” Cody squeals in the backseat in her booster seat. “Pedal to the medal, woman!”

  I grin, loving hearing a part of Cody in her. The grin that graces my face even wears me out. I swear it’s been the stress of the last few months that have been catching up to me. There’s no time for the weary in the heat of the battle. Garrett will go down.

  Chapter 16

  Cody

  “I get you.” I ruff up the top of Scotty’s head. He growls back, curling up in his sleeping ball. “We have dicks and can be dicks, then we chase the women out of our lives. Yet you have some secret. You can bite people, piss on them, and be just plain and simple a dick and they still love you.”

  “Jesus,” I mutter to myself, leaping up from the couch, ignoring the growling dog. I decide to walk a few miles on Bertie’s treadmill, since I found myself drunk talking to a dog, completely sober as hell.

  I’ve been able to work myself up to two miles since Bertie’s mysterious work shifts. Something was off, and Nell cemented that fact. I did what was right, and for the love of all holy, it sucks.

  Everything is packed, and I’m left in sweaty clothes pacing up and down the hall on the second floor between my girls’ rooms. I have several packages that will be delivered over the next few days. Truly thought I’d be here when they received them. I’m wrong once again. I peer into Cody’s room, knowing she’ll love her new overstuffed bean bag. Shit, it’s going to take up half of her room. I can picture her and Scotty curled up on it as she tells him all her woes of the day.

  I force myself down to Bertie’s room, leaning on the entry to it. I don’t have it in me to enter. Her bedding is the same as what she had back when she entered college. I knew it damn well then and even better now. I also know it’s not because Bertie was attached to the set she once purchased, but rather the fact she never took time for herself after her precious daughter entered her life and she never gave up on her hopes and dreams. Either way, the black and white bedding with pops of color will look damn good in there.

  With that, I pick up my bag outside of my room and trail downstairs, waiting for the call that Jessie is outside waiting on me. Ripping a Band-Aid off an open, weeping wound has nothing on the pain I’m feeling right now. I take everything in as I pass the kitchen and finally settle on the couch. I flop down, resting my head on the back, remembering all the memories made in this house Bertie built. That’s exactly what it is, hers. I don’t have a spot in it until she invites me in fully. The damn woman put her job on the line for our love and continues to battle it on her own. I have to let her.

  I have no idea how much time passes before I hear the familiar roar of Jessie’s engine accompanied by three quick honks of the horn. I find myself chuckling and shaking my head. There’s no longer a stiffness in my hip as I stand. Jessie will never know how much his old familiarity soothes away a bit of the ache. It’s a piece of home or the one I used to know. I drop off the two letters on the entry table and close the door on the chapter I just lived out loud.

  “Goddamn, that new hip looks damn good on you.” Jessie pounds the hood of his old truck.

  Max is by my side, grabbing my bag and tossing it in the bed of the truck. Don’t give a shit that more than likely it’s packed with snow back there or we may run into another snow storm on the way home.

  “Shut the hell up.” I slide into the truck. Max follows, and Jessie isn’t far behind. We ride in silence for a long time before my dumbass prying friend takes it upon himself to lay into me.

  “You gonna just be a puss or tell us what’s going?”

  A grunt is my only response.

  “I see.” Jessie smacks the steering wheel. “Taking the puss route. You always have. Why change now?”

  I know what he’s doing, and he’s not very damn discreet about it. He’s pushing every single one of my buttons trying to get a reaction, hoping I’ll share with him. I revert back to the old Cody, gifting him with nothing but a smartass retort.

  “You seem a bit too worried about pussy, Jessie. Ain’t getting any at home?”

  Max snorts in the backseat. Jessie’s grip on the steering wheel tightens.

  I don’t stop there. “Revert back to the old yanking it with an old sock?”

  “Fuck you,” he grumbles. “I see some things never change. Wrap yourself right back up into your miserable shell for all I care.”

  I nod, knowing I pushed him far enough for him to shut the fuck up.

  “So, you all hear Zack is projected to lead his team to state this year.” Max ends his statement with a slight chuckle covering his mouth.

  Oh shit, Max just ignited the fighting dynamite. Zack is dating Jessie’s oldest daughter, Whit. Nobody would be good enough for his girl, and it doesn’t help Zack is a player. And what I mean by a player is he’s an athlete, a football quarterback, leading the rival school to breaking all records, Max’s included. We all love to fling shit Jessie’s way about it.

  The truck comes to an abrupt stop at a gas station. “Wanna fucking walk home, boy?”

  Max shakes his head, laughing his ass off as he gets out of the truck. Jessie’s wide smile on his face makes me a jealous bastard. Yes, jealous. He screwed up back in the day, fought until he made it right, getting the love of his life back along with his daughter he didn’t know about. Along the way, Jessie and Jules adopted Max. Jessie has it all, and I can guarantee he never pushes his friends away when they want to talk about something. He is transparent as hell, never giving up on the battle. It wasn’t easy and downright ugly at points, but he came out the victor.

  I will never forget the time he nearly ripped my head right off my shoulders when I got his girl, Jules, toasted on my signature drink, the Pussy Pleaser. Good damn memories… I shake my head getting out of the truck. The two-hour drive has already left me stiff. I walk around, feeling my hip ease up, then follow Jessie into the truck stop. Max is already settled in a booth, ready to eat. That boy can eat any time of the day, and just thinking of it, my stomach growls on point.

  I made breakfast for the girls but couldn’t stomach it myself. Also had a pork loin roast and gravy for them in the Crock-Pot. Being single as long as I have and working late nights, I’ve become the master of Crock-Pot recipes.

  “Figured we’d eat here then make the rest of the drive,” Max announces when we settle into the booth.

  “Yeah, that’s fine.” Jessie takes off his ball cap, setting it on the booth next to him. “Should have just enough fuel to roll into town.”

  He grabs the mug of hot coffee that was waiting for him, drinking it down black as it was made. “You know Jules is going to make you stay with us tonight.”

  “My white ass.” I shake my head. “I need my bed.”

  “Good luck with that.” He chuckles. “She swears you still need someone watching after you.”

  “I had a damn hip replacement, not a brain transplant, for Christ’s sake. I’ve been fine on my own for the last few weeks.”

  “Yeah.” He smirks.

  And I know I’ve done it again. Opened the window right open for him to try. Before he can shoot a question my way, I take it upon myself to set things straight.

  “Yeah, we reconnected. She has an amazing daughter around the age of Emma and Finn. She’s a bit younger and amazing.”

  The waitress interrupts us, taking our orders.

  “Hey there, guys. What can I get you?” She leans on my side of the table, nibbling on the end of her pe
n while staring at me. Her game is way too obvious for me.

  All three of us order the chicken fried steak special. I hanker to order a beer but can’t start the cycle. With the heartache I’m bearing right now, taking a step down the slippery slope to the bottom of the bottle would be way too damn easy. I settle on a Dr. Pepper.

  “Anything else?” She leans down, avoiding another server rushing past her and giving me an ample view of her cleavage.

  “No,” I growl, hoping like hell she gets the damn hint.

  She tucks tail and darts for the kitchen. Max erupts in laughter.

  “Damn, you still got it, man.”

  I toss the salt shaker at his head. He’s too fast, catching it before it pelts him between the eyes. There’s a shower of salt. Once the salt is brushed off the table, I finish my story, knowing damn well Jessie won’t give up until I do.

  “Her name is Cody.” The men’s jaws are slack in shock. But I keep going. “Her dad was killed in a car accident when she was a newborn. Bertie put herself through medical school and settled here with Nell.”

  “Who’s Nell?” Max asks, trying to keep up.

  “Nell.” Jessie points his finger. “Wasn’t that her roommate her freshman year of college?”

  I nod then take a long gulp of the cold Dr. Pepper the waitress set down. “Sure is, and let me tell you she’s not my biggest fan.”

  I fill Jessie in on the real story of what happened back then, how I was minutes away from going all the way with Bethany. There’s not one evidence of judgment as I explain all of it.

  “When I got here, she was engaged to a fellow surgeon.”

  “Engaged!” Jessie drops back in the booth, shaking his head from side to side in shock.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I leave out the nasty moment before my surgery. “Long story straight, Garrett ended up being a major douche, and she broke up with him. Found out from Nell after she chewed my ass that Garrett, who happens to be the chief of surgery, went to the Board and had Bertie suspended from practicing for now. I don’t have many other details besides the fact he’s taken away the job she loves for the time being. I don’t know what else he’s holding over her head.”

  “Why did Nell chew your ass?” Max asks.

  “Long story straight.”

  I don’t miss Jessie rolling his eyes but keeping quiet.

  “I didn’t give Bertie a choice last time. I left her. I walked away. Nell made it clear that now it’s Bertie’s choice and that I needed to give that to her.”

  The waitress sets down our plates of food then snags our cups for refills. She doesn’t take it upon herself to flirt this time. Message received.

  “Does Bertie agree with this?” Jessie asks, slicing into his chicken fried steak.

  “No idea.” I shrug, drenching everything with ketchup then salt and pepper.

  “You’re a dumbass, Cody Sterling, truly a dumbass,” he grunts, shoving food in his mouth and talking around it. “You finally get the girl back and then walk away. I truly didn’t think you could get any dumber than you already were.”

  Slicing into my food, I glare him down. “I didn’t just walk out on her this time. She damn well knows where I stand and that I want her and her daughter in my life, whether it’s at her house or back at mine.”

  “What did she say when you told her this?” Max asks with his plate already clean.

  “Jesus.” I slam my fork down my plate. “You two are worse than two old biddies gossiping at the senior center.”

  “Well?” Max leans back, eyeing Jessie’s food.

  “Nothing. She heard me and didn’t say much of anything.” I fork up a heap of steak and potatoes, bringing them to my mouth. “Now this discussion is closed. No more fucking questions.”

  The assholes let me finish my meal in silence. Max polished off both Jessie’s and my plate without asking. Then ordered a damn dessert. Lord, help the kid if his metabolism ever catches up to him. It won’t be a pretty sight.

  “I’ll get the bill.” Jessie places his hat back on his head.

  “No.” I scoot out of the booth, standing tall. Little to no ache to be felt. “It’s enough you brought me here and picked me up. Not to mention visited me all those times in the hospital.”

  “Thanks, man. And ya, how about not going and try dying on us again.”

  I shake my head, pretty damn sure I won’t live that one day down anytime soon. Now that I’m out of the woods, I’m sure I’ll be catching shit for it for years to come.

  “Yeah, I thought you’d be using a walker or some shit, old man,” Max adds.

  He may be younger, faster, and stronger, but he doesn’t see the punch to his shoulder coming. He yelps, rubbing out the pain as I stride to the counter. I pluck a toothpick from the dispenser while waiting on the cashier. This place is hopping, and I’m sure it’s because of their food. For a greasy truck stop, it is damn good. When it’s my turn, I hand the older gal my bill, perch the toothpick between my lips, and pull my wallet from my back pocket.

  I’m generous, leaving a ten-dollar tip for the over-eager waitress. Would’ve been way less if she never got the hint, that’s for damn sure. Max and Jessie are still deep in conversation at the table while Max works on his dessert. I decide to grab a bottle of water and a large bag of seeds at the convenience store attached to the restaurant. I’ll need something to do with my nervous energy over the next three hours.

  If I thought the restaurant was busy and crowded, I was wrong. There are people everywhere in here. I find dill pickle sunflower seeds fast enough and just snag a bottle of water, not looking at the price or brand. Jesus, every line is about six people deep. My frustration grows even though they are moving fast enough.

  “Daddy.” A sweet little voice gets my attention.

  A tiny blonde girl. Her hair isn’t curly, but damn it, I’m taken back to the little one I know with wild curly hair.

  “Can I get this?” She holds up a bag of barbecue potato chips, waving them high. “Please, please, please. I will be so good for the rest of the drive. I swear I won’t ask how much longer again.”

  The dad grunts, adjusting all the road trip snacks in his hands. She beams wildly, joining his side in the line right next to me. The tiny one begins to hum then strings together words.

  “Lime and coconut. Lime, coconut. Put ‘em together.”

  Her dad chuckles and helps her with the words of the song, “Put the lime in the coconut.”

  They sing it a few times before I check out. The song gets caught in my head, and I find myself humming it as I walk out to the truck. Jessie and Max lean on the sides, chatting it up. I catch another glimpse of bright blonde hair.

  The girl skips across the parking lot with her bag of treasures clutched to her chest. Her dad hollers at her then drops the bags in his hand. I’m closer to her, letting my own purchases fall to the ground and dart for her. A bright red sports car zooms through the parking lot. She doesn’t see it nor does the driver see her.

  I lurch forward, snagging the back of her sweater, tugging with all my might until I can get my other hand on her. We both topple back. The harsh cement welcomes my back with a thud, knocking all the air from my lungs. I keep her tucked to my chest, not wanting the pavement to harm her in any way.

  “Robbie!” Her dad races up to us. “Robbie, are you okay?”

  The little one in my arms squirms until she’s free and runs to her father. I hear yelling, looking to my side to see Jessie ripping the driver’s ass. Max is on standby in case he needs to pull Jessie back.

  “Daddy.” She shoots her arms in the air. “Daddy.”

  She tucks her head in the crook of his neck while she sobs.

  “You’re okay, sweetie, you’re okay.” He pats her back.

  I feel as if I’m interrupting an intimate moment, so I bend over and pluck my bag from the ground and start for the truck.

  “Hey.”

  I turn to the voice to see the dad stepping toward me.


  “Thank you.” He shakes his head. “Jesus, thank you. I wouldn’t have…”

  I raise a hand, waving him off. “No worries, man. I’m glad she’s safe.”

  “Thank you,” he says again.

  I turn to walk back to the truck, but he’s not done.

  “If I ever lost her, I wouldn’t be able to go on. She’s my world.”

  I rake my hand through my hair. “I get it. I really get it.”

  Then a bright flash of yellow catches my attention. Looking closer, I see the little girl is wearing a pair of canary yellow boots just like Cody’s. I smile wide and wave to them one more final time. As I stride to the truck, I find myself singing “Put the Lime in the Coconut.”

  None of it’s lost on me.

  Jessie slams the truck door, still seething from the careless driver. He pounds the steering wheel. “Some young dumb kid. He has no fucking idea he nearly killed a child and didn’t seem to give two shits.”

  “Calm down, Dad.” Max pats his shoulder from the back. “Pretty sure you left him with piss-soaked, overpriced designer jeans.”

  Jessie shakes his head. “You just never know and can’t take anything for granted. Life is too damn short for careless actions like that. Should’ve smashed the little puke’s face in.”

  With that, Jessie pulls the truck out on the highway. I stare out the window, watching the mile markers tick by. Road signs of every color blur past as does the scenery. A bright yellow one catches my attention. With the sight of that color, my future is planned. Fuck letting her make a choice and fighting her own fight. Fuck that.

  “Turn around,” I bark out.

  Jessie startles behind the wheel, glancing over at me.

  I slam the dash of his truck with my fist. “Turn the fuck around right now. I’m not leaving them.”

  Chapter 17

  Bertie

  “Mom, he said we will still be best friends and he’s sending us stuff in the mail.” Cody kicks her legs in the backseat from her booster seat. All I really see is a bright flash of yellow.